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Force draw with Reds in rugby thriller

Justin Chadwick

Star Queensland Reds five-eighth Quade Cooper missed a 75th-minute sideline conversion as the Western Force held on for a 11-11 Super Rugby draw in Perth on Saturday night.

The Reds appeared headed for their third straight defeat against the Force after slipping to an 11-3 deficit early in the second half.

But a powerful 30 minutes from the Reds catapulted them back into the contest, with a Cooper penalty and a try to substitute Chris Feauai-Sautia locking up the scores at 11-11.

Cooper had the chance to put the Reds ahead with a tough conversion attempt, but the enigmatic Wallaby sprayed his shot to the left.

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The Force tried to pinch the game as the clock wound down.

But a turnover just 22m out gave the Reds one last chance to win it, with scrumhalf Will Genia launching an audacious run down the touchline before being tackled into touch 40m short of the line.

The Reds entered Saturday's match having lost their previous two encounters to the Force, including a shock 19-12 defeat at Suncorp Stadium earlier this year.

Force winger Paddy Dellit further stoked the fire earlier this week when he claimed the Reds didn't show the Force enough respect before that round-five clash.

The Reds dominated play early, and France-bound winger Digby Ioane thought he scored the opener when he touched down in the corner in the ninth minute.

However, the TMO ruled out the try after replays showed Ioane's boot grazed the paint of the touchline.

The Force struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities early, but were given a much-needed spark when returning winger Nick Cummins marked a box kick and made off on one of his trademark runs in the 17th minute.

Although the fast break didn't result in a try, it gave the side great field position, with five-eighth Sias Ebersohn kicking a penalty shortly after to break the deadlock.

Force hooker Heath Tessmann was influential in the first half, unleashing a series of big tackles and forcing several turnovers at the breakdown.

The Force went into half-time with a 6-3 lead, but that became an 11-3 advantage in the 52nd minute when a brilliant break from Cummins set up flanker Ben McCalman for a try.

Ebersohn missed the easy conversion, and from there the Reds dominated possession as they powered their way back into the contest.

And as the Force penalty count rose, so did the pressure.

The Reds opted for line-outs instead of penalty points, and they eventually crossed the line when Feauai-Sautia barged over a glut of Force defenders to touch down in the 73rd minute.

But Cooper's miss meant the Reds' winless streak against the Force stretched to three games.

Reds skipper James Horwill was substituted at half-time after copping a heavy knock to the head.

"In the end we did well to get back and get two points out of the game," Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie said.

"They frustrated and harassed and kept us under pressure."

Force coach Michael Foley was pleased with how his team rebounded from last week's 41-7 mauling at the hands of the Brumbies.